Mr. Birling quotes Flashcards
The quote “l__ c__ a__ h__ p__” demonstrates his attitude towards Sheila’s engagement and what it will mean for him.
“lower costs and higher prices”
Mr. Birling repeatedly and egotistically refers to himself as a “h__ h__ b__”.
“hard headed businessman”
Priestley uses dramatic irony to make Mr. Birling appear idiotic and short-sighted in the quotes “p__ a__ p__ a__ r__ p__”, “n__ w__ w__, e__ s__ h__-c__ f__ i_ t__ B__” and “u__, a__ u__”.
1) “peace and prosperity and rapid progress” 2) “nobody wants war, except some half-civilised folks in the Balkans” 3) “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”
Birling assures Gerald he is making the right decision to marry Sheila by mentioning he’s likely to receive “j__ a k__”.
“just a knighthood”
Birling’s capitalist views against social responsibility are evident in the quotes “c__ a__ a__ t__ n__” and “a m__ h__ t_ … l__ a__ h__ a__ h__ o__”. At the end of the play, he refers to the inspector as “p__” and “p__ a s__ o_ s__ s__ o_ c__”.
1) “community and all that nonsense” 2) “a man has to…look after himself and his own” 3) “prejudiced” and “probably a socialist or some sort of crank”
Birling shows he believes he is above the Inspector by saying “l__ h__, i__, I c__ t__ u__ f__ a__ o__”.
“Look here, inspector, I consider this uncalled for and officious”
Birling underminingly refers to his workers who asked for higher wages as “r__”. He “r__, o__ c__”, maintaining that “i_ y__ d__ c__ d__ s__ o_ s__ o_ t__ p__, t__ s__ b_ a__ f__ t__ e__”.
1) “restless” 2) “refused, of course” 3) “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth”
Birling recalls that Eva had been “c__ t__” and “h__ a l__ t_ s__ - f__ t__ m__”.
1) “causing trouble” 2) “(she’d) had a lot to say - far too much”
When the Inspector, having been threatened using class by Birling, remarks that he doesn’t play golf, Birling replies “I d__ s__ y__ d__”.
“I didn’t suppose you did”
Birling, at the beginning of the play, believes that “I w__ q__ j__” for his conduct concerning Eva Smith. Later in the play, he maintains this view and says “t__ e__ e__ f__ w__ b__ y__ m__ a__ I d__”.
1) “I was quite justified” 2) “there’s every excuse for what both your mother and I did”
Birling demonstrates negative class prejudices against Eva in the quote “s__ g__ h__ i__ t__ t__, I s__?”
“she got herself into trouble there, I suppose?”
Birling demonstrates just how seriously he takes Eva’s case, and how little he respects the inspector’s duty, through the quote “w_ w__ h__ a n__ l__ f__ c__…a__ a__ n__ m__ y__ m__ o_ i_ n__, h__ y__?”.
“We were having a nice little family celebration…and a nasty mess you’ve made of it now, haven’t you?”
Birling repeatedly asserts authority over the Inspector
“look here” 2) “I’ve told you before…I don’t like your tone….and I don’t propose to give you much rope”
Birling demonstrates his views on gender when he says “I p__ a__ t__ i_ w__ m_ d__, a y__, u__ g__, i_ b__ d__ i__ t__”.
“I protest against the way in which my daughter, a young, unmarried girl, is being dragged into this”
Mr. Birling tries to justify Gerald’s unfaithfulness by telling Sheila “y__ m__ u__ t__ a l__ o_ y__ m__-“.
“you must understand that a lot of young men-“
